Abstract
This experimental study was performed to evaluate if epidural administration of xylazine could decrease the effective dose of intravenous ketamine for maintenance of general anesthesia in laparoscopic procedures and to assess intra-anesthetic complications.
Twenty healthy female dogs (21 ± 3 kg, 18 ± 1.2 months) were selected. Animals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10). All dogs were premedicated with acepromazine. Anesthesia was induced by a combination of ketamine and diazepam. In one group, xylazine, and in the other group, normal saline were injected epidurally, and then all the dogs were spayed by the same laparoscopic method. Repeated doses of ketamine were applied for maintenance of anesthesia. Reflexes and cardiopulmonary parameters such as SpO2 and ETCO2 were recorded during the operation.
There were no significant differences in weight and age between the two groups. The mean of ketamine administration in group 1 was 640 mg and 270 mg in group 2 (epidural administration of xylazine). Data analysis showed that epidural administration of xylazine decreased the amount of ketamine needed to maintain anesthesia (P < 0.05), with no significant difference in cardiopulmonary parameters during laparoscopic operation.
Epidural injection of xylazine could be used as a concurrent medication in general anesthesia without significant complications. Analgesic effects of xylazine decrease the use of ketamine (P < 0.05) based on intraoperative pain reflex during anesthesia.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Behnam Osouli, Manager of Aryan Tandorost Co. and an agent of Richard WOLF-Germany Co. in Iran for providing the laparoscopic device and instruments.
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Pedram, M.S., Ashegh, H., Abdi, M. et al. Action of epidural xylazine on ketamine anesthetic requirements in laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy in the dog. Comp Clin Pathol 21, 791–794 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1176-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1176-9